World War II history flies high at Plymouth's airport

Tuesday

Oct 3, 2017 at 4:34 PMOct 3, 2017 at 6:16 PM

Benjamin Paulin The Patriot Ledger @BPaulin_Ledger

PLYMOUTH - For over two decades Frank Tedesco has looked forward to coming to the Plymouth Municipal Airport when the Collings Foundation makes their annual stop on their nationwide Wings of Freedom tour.

The non-profit "living museum" based in Stow travels to airstrips and airports across the country with four fully functional World War II-era military planes.

"This is living history," the 97-year-old Weymouth native, who now lives in Norton, said. "These planes were used in World War II and have been restored in such a manner that actually represent exactly what the planes were like when they were being used."

Tedesco would know. He flew 35 bombing missions in a B-24 Liberator during World War II. As a member of the Army 15th Air Force he served in the European Theatre from 1942 to 1945.

Now, when the planes come to Plymouth, Tedesco is there to give lectures to student and children groups that come to visit. He also doesn't mind chatting up any of the other visitors.

"This has been a very important part of my life," Tedesco said. "The fact that I'm out telling the public about what went on during World War II and making sure that they understand the work and the fact that these guys put their lives on the line everyday, I never want them to forget that sort of thing."

The B-24 Liberator bomber on display is the only one left in the entire country that can still fly, said Jamie Mitchell, the flight coordinator for Wings of Freedom.

"It's actually the most historically significant one here. They built over 18,000 and there are only 12 air frames left and this is the only one still flyable," Mitchell said. "More veterans served on a B-24 than any other during the war."

Of the planes they have in their collection, the B-24 was the only one that was flown during World War II, which flew in the South Pacific.

Plymouth's Richard Ragazzini Jr. said he looks forward to the event every year.

"We're very fortunate that they pick our little town as one of their stops every year," Ragazzini said. "These men, they were only in their teens when they went off into foreign territory in these aircraft and they didn't know from one mission to the next whether they'd be coming back. You've got to have the largest amount of respect for that."

The tour has been in Plymouth since Monday and will fly out on Wednesday after wrapping up at noon. Visitors pay $15 to go inside the planes and check them out while they're on the ground. They can pay between $400-$450 to be a passenger on a flight in the bigger planes. Or pay between $2,200 to $3,200 to fly in the training cockpit of the P-51 Mustang fighter plane.

Jack Hurley's adrenaline was still pumping after he took an hour flight in the P-51 Mustang. He was able to take the controls and fly the plane himself at certain points during the trip.

"I actually did more flying than [the pilot did]," said Hurley, 67, of Easton.

He and a pilot flew over the Cape Cod Canal, over Martha's Vineyard and by Quonset Point Air National Guard base in Rhode Island.

When asked what it was like riding in the plane he said, "I saw God. It was incredible. You can't describe it. To think about the guys that were up there [during the war]. It's an experience."

For Tedesco, he sees it as his obligation to teach people about the planes and his service in the war. Especially given that there aren't many men and women known as "The Greatest Generation" left.

"I do it because a lot of guys my age - first of all, there are not a lot of guys my age - and those that are here can't get up and talk like me," Tedesco said. "So I have an obligation to do it for the guys that just aren't around anymore, as well as the guys can't do it, to get the information to the public before they forget it."

The tour wraps up from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday. For reservations and information on flight experiences, call 800-568-8924 or visit collingsfoundation.org.